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The Phuket Vegetarian Festival
A Mystical and Colorful Journey
Every year, from October 2nd to 12th, 2024, the island of Phuket comes alive with the fascinating Vegetarian Festival. This unique nine-day event is rooted in Chinese tradition and celebrates the ninth lunar month, a sacred period dedicated to the purification of body and mind.
The exact origins of the festival remain shrouded in mystery. Legend has it that a Chinese opera troupe, struck down by malaria, regained their health thanks to a strict vegetarian diet and prayers addressed to the Nine Emperor Gods. As a sign of gratitude, a festival was established, blending religious devotion with a celebration of life.
For nine days, Phuket transforms into a captivating spectacle of religious fervor and ancestral traditions. Participants, dressed in immaculate white, observe strict precepts:
- Absolute purity
- Strict vegetarianism: no consumption of meat, eggs, dairy products, or any other animal products.
- Sexual abstinence
- No alcohol
- Self-control: no swearing, insulting, or fighting.
- Respect for animal life
The use of kitchen utensils dedicated to vegetarian food (Jae) is also essential. Participation in ceremonies is forbidden to people in mourning, pregnant women, and those who are menstruating.
A Mystical and Impressive Spectacle
One of the most striking aspects of the festival lies in its spectacular ceremonies, orchestrated to invoke the protection of the gods. In a mystical atmosphere, men and women, in a trance, perform impressive acts of self-mortification. Piercing their bodies with sharp objects, walking on burning coals, they become intermediaries of the gods, demonstrating a resistance to pain and a religious fervor that is out of the ordinary. A captivating spectacle, but one that can be shocking to sensitive souls.
The Heart of the Festival
The Temples of Phuket
Every Chinese temple in Phuket, and in particular the Jui Tui Shrine, located near the Ranong Road Market, becomes a place of gathering and religious fervor. The raising of the Lantern Pole, a symbol of the opening of the festival, marks the arrival of Shiva, the Hindu god, bringing his spiritual power to the event.
Colorful processions take over the streets of the island, offering a fascinating spectacle to visitors. The fervor of the participants, running on hot coals or climbing ladders with sharp blades, testifies to their unwavering devotion.
An Unforgettable Vegetarian Feast
The Vegetarian Festival is also an opportunity to discover delicious and inventive cuisine. Food stalls line the streets, offering a range of surprisingly realistic vegetarian dishes. Thanks to the use of plant-based proteins and soy, traditional dishes are revisited, perfectly imitating the appearance and taste of meat.
The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is an unforgettable experience, a journey to the heart of a thousand-year-old tradition, where religious fervor mingles with the beauty of the ceremonies and the culinary richness.
